Research and expertise
My expertise include the modern methods of construction, offsite construction, pre-manufactured value, digital construction and transformation, digital literacy in construction, the adoption of innovations, strategic project management, change management, etc. I am an experienced project manager and the author of several academic and industry outputs that aim to challenge traditional wisdom and promote new knowledge.
Current research activity
- RAAC
- Modern Methods of Construction
- Public Procurement Agreements
- Metaverse in Construction
- Taxonomy of BIM-based Plugins/Extensions
- Technological Expandability of Extant Digital Tools
- Organisational Identities and Legacy Claims
- Role of Psychology and Individual Characteristics in Construction
Recently completed research projects
- CITB: Digital Leadership for the Construction Supply Chain
- Machine Learning-Enabled Fire Performance Diagnostics BIM Solution (FireBIM) for Building Design and Construction Compliance Check
- PhD: Modern Methods of Construction in the UK Public Sector
Recent publications
- Saad, Ali. M. (2023) ‘Exploring the Contractual Arrangements Associated with the Adoption of the Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) in the UK’, Journal of Legal Affairs and Dispute Resolution in Engineering and Construction. doi: 10.1061/JLADAH.LADR-986
- Saad, Ali. M., Dulaimi, M. and Gorse, C. (2023) ‘Prospects of promoting MMC across the public construction sector: A systematic review against the diffusion of innovation theory’, Journal of Architectural Engineering. doi: 10.1061/JAEIED.AEENG-1547
- Saad, Ali. M., Dulaimi, M. and Zulu, S. L. (2023) ‘Broader use of the Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) in the UK public sector: A Business Model Canvas (BMC) perspective’, Journal of Open Innovation: Technology, Market, and Complexity, p. 100035. doi: 10.1016/j.joitmc.2023.100035
- Saad, Ali. M., Dulaimi, M., Zulu, S. L. and Gorse, C. (2023) ‘Are the characteristics of public clients influencing their uptake of the Modern Methods of Construction? A thematic analysis’, Smart and Sustainable Built Environment. doi: 10.1108/SASBE-11-2022-0255
- Saad, Ali. M., Dulaimi, M. and Zulu, S. L. (2023) ‘A Systematic Review of the Business Contingencies Influencing Broader Adoption: Modern Methods of Construction (MMC)’, Buildings, 13(4), p. 878. doi: 10.3390/buildings13040878
- Saad, Ali. M., Dulaimi, M. and Zulu, S. L. (2023) ‘Examining the Influence of UK Public Clients’ Characteristics on Their Own Innovation-Decision towards the Modern Methods of Construction (MMC)’, Sustainability, 15(5), p. 4159. doi: 10.3390/su15054159
- Saad, Ali. M., Zulu, S. L. and Dulaimi, M. (2023) ‘“It’s your fault!” – said a public client to modernity advocates: an exploration of UK public sector’s viewpoints on the modern methods of construction’, Construction Innovation. doi: 10.1108/CI-11-2022-0282
- Saad, Ali. M., M. Dulaimi, S. Arogundade, S. L. Zulu, and C. Gorse. 2023. “Modern methods of construction (MMC) and innovation negativism in the UK public sector.” Built Environ. Proj. Asset Manag. https://doi.org/10.1108/BEPAM-06-2023-0108
- Saad, Ali. M., Ajayi, S. O. and Alaka, H. A. (2022) ‘Trends in BIM-based plugins development for construction activities: a systematic review’, International Journal of Construction Management, 0(0), pp. 1–13. doi: 10.1080/15623599.2022.2093815
- Zulu, S. L., Saad, Ali. M., et al. (2023) ‘A thematic analysis of the organisational influences on digitalisation in construction firms’, Journal of Engineering, Design and Technology. doi: 10.1108/JEDT-10-2022-0513
- Zulu, S. L., Saad, Ali. M., et al. (2023) ‘Digital leadership enactment in the construction industry: Barriers undermining effective transformation’, Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management. doi: https://doi.org/10.1108/ECAM-05-2022-0491
- Zulu, S. L. and Saad, Ali. M. (2023) ‘A Sensemaking Perspective of Digitalisation in Construction Organisations’, Sustainability, 15(3), p. 2344. doi: 10.3390/su15032344
- Zulu, S. L., Saad, Ali. M. and Gledson, B. (2023) ‘Exploring Leaders’ Perceptions of the Business Case for Digitalisation in the Construction Industry’, Buildings, 13(3), p. 701. doi: 10.3390/buildings13030701
- Zulu, S. L., Saad, Ali. M. and Gledson, B. (2023) ‘Individual Characteristics as Enablers of Construction Employees’ Digital Literacy: An Exploration of Leaders’ Opinions’, Sustainability, 15(2), p. 1531. doi: 10.3390/su15021531
- Zulu, S. L., Saad, Ali. M. and Omotayo, T. (2023) ‘The Mediators of the Relationship between Digitalisation and Construction Productivity: A Systematic Literature Review’, Buildings, 13(4), p. 839. doi: 10.3390/buildings13040839
- Arogundade, S., M. Dulaimi, S. Ajayi, and Saad, M.. (2024). “Contractors’ carbon reduction behaviour: UK construction professionals’ perspective.” Construction Innovation https://doi.org/10.1108/CI-08-2023-0192
- Gledson, B., S. L. Zulu, Saad, Ali. M., and H. Ponton. (2023). “Digital leadership framework to support firm-level digital transformations for Construction 4.0.” Construction Innovation https://doi.org/10.1108/CI-12-2022-0328
Teaching
I contribute to learning and teaching activities across the Schools programmes including:
Undergraduate
- CVB112 - Construction Finance and Risk
- CVB075META - Construction Planning and Delivery
- CVC028 - Construction Economics
Postgraduate
- CVP502 - Strategic Management in project-based Organisations (Module Leader)
- CVP328 - Strategic Management in Construction and Engineering (Module Leader)
- Supervision of Postgraduate Research Projects
Enterprise
Short courses
- CMI Level 7 Award in Strategic Management and Leadership
- CMI Level 7 Award in Professional Consulting
- BREEAM Accredited Graduate (AG)
Consultancies
- Supporting the first research-based MMC Dynamic Purchasing System to deliver housing projects of a total valuation of £200 million
Profile
I am an ambitious academic, researcher, and project manager who acquires extensive construction management, commercial, procurement, and contractual knowledge, skills, and experience.
Professionally, my work covered Lebanon and the Emirate of Dubai, where I held managerial positions at major projects like the Lebanese National Museum, Hilton Dubai, Dubai Marriott Palm Jumeirah, Taj Exotica Hotel and Spa, etc.
Academically, I have a solid history of top-tier research outputs, development of training content, lecturing in Higher Education institutions, and supervision of postgraduate students. I am also experienced in working on key funded research and consultancy projects that involve close collaboration with industry partners.
Professional affiliations
- Affiliated Member of the American Society of Civil Engineers
- Member of the Order of Engineers – Lebanon
- BSI PAS 8700 Review Panel
- Local Government Association Digital Construction Working Group
- Member of CIB TG96 Accelerating Innovation in Construction, Task Group. 2020–2024
Awards
- Winner of Research Innovation Sustainability Enterprise Award – MMC Award 2022. The University of West of England Bristol
- Highly Recommended for the Social Sustainability Category International Conference Sustainable Ecological Engineering Design for Society Conference 2021, Leeds Beckett University, Dublin Institute of Technology, and The University of the West of England. For the paper titled: Extracting MMC Values that contribute towards Employment Opportunities Amidst Global Pandemics. Ali M. Saad and Chris Gorse
External activities
Guest Editor of Buildings Special Issue. Peer Reviewer for Business Process Management Journal, Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management (ECAM), Architectural Engineering and Design Management (AEDM), Journal of Open Innovation, Construction Innovation, Journal of Engineering, Design and Technology, and Results in Engineering.
Key collaborators
My research and enterprise activities are conducted with a range of academic and stakeholder partners, including:
- YORhub
- East Riding of Yorkshire Council
- Local Government Association
- CITB
- InnovateUK